N.y. Orders Power Plants To Cut Pollution Emissions

The Nation - In Brief

August 18, 2004

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Citing what they called a public-health emergency, New York officials Tuesday ordered power plants to reduce emissions blamed for acid rain. State Environmental Conservation Commissioner Erin Crotty announced the emergency order aimed at reducing emissions at least temporarily. At the same time, she announced an appeal of the decision by a state judge this spring that had blocked the same regulations from taking effect permanently. Power plants and unions had sued the state over its anti-pollution regulations. In the ruling in May, Supreme Court Judge Leslie Stein upheld the state's right to establish the strict measures, but found the state had missed its own deadline to adopt them.